In early America, Benjamin Franklin and his fellow civic-minded colonists formed voluntary associations to improve society in early America. Franklin encouraged the establishment of libraries in order “to render the benefit from books more common.” Today, the Associates of the Spirit of America Collection is a new voluntary effort in support of the Marvin and Sybil Weiner Spirit of America Collection at the FAU Libraries. Marvin Weiner collected rare early American and European books dating to the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries to replicate the libraries of founding thinkers like Franklin. In 2006 he donated the collection, which is unique in the American southeast and of national importance, to FAU.

As a Member, you help support . . . 1. Preservation and access for this amazing collection about America’s origins 2. Public exhibitions that make the Spirit of America available to the South Florida community 3. Public lectures in the library and beyond 4. Fellowships for scholars visiting and using the collection 5. Educating the next generation about the ideals and struggles of the nation’s founding

Annual Membership Levels and Programming

Franklin’s Apprentices $25/year for students; $100/year for the general public Invitation to collection events such as lectures and exhibitsAdams’s Delegates $250/year Early invitation to collection events such as lectures and exhibitsJefferson’s Cabinet $1,000/year Preferred seating at lectures and priority status at events Invitation to a guided tour of exhibits related to the collectionWashington’s Inner Circle $2,000/year and above All of the above benefits Invitation to an exclusive yearly salon where patrons can learn from experts and interact with the material more closely Benefactors can choose a volume to sponsor from our “Adopt-a-Book” program.

Additionally, all Associates of the Collection will, with their permission, be recognized on the Weiner Collection website. Click here to become a Weiner Associate today.

Adopt-a-Book Program

Through our Adopt-a-Book program, benefactors can choose to sponsor an item from the collection, helping to support the preservation of these fragile treasures. The benefactor’s name will be placed on an electronic bookplate in the library catalog. Click here to Adopt-a-Book today.

If you prefer to pay by check, please make it out to the FAU Foundation and write HUM 745 on the memo line. Please also include a short note stating that you would like this contribution to go into “HUM 745, the Howard and Judith Weiner Spirit of America Advancement Fund.” This should be sent directly to:

FAU Foundation Inc.

777 Glades Road, ADM 295

Boca Raton, FL 33431

STEP 2. Contact Dr. Adrian Finucane at afinucane@fau.edu or 561-297-3951 to get your name on the mailing list.

Florida Atlantic University embodies a culture of strategic and collaborative community engagement that results in mutual benefit to the institution and the diverse internal and external communities that it serves.